Softball 3/19/2023 7:23:00 PM

Lady Aggies now 30-0 after North Ark sweep

Box Score By Kevin Farr
Murray State Sports Information
Top-ranked Murray State rode strong pitching and timely hitting once again to improve to a perfect 30-0 and finish off a conference series sweep at North Arkansas College on Sunday afternoon.

Coach Aaron Mullens' club notched a third straight shutout in the opening 5-0 decision and followed up with an 11-1 run rule verdict for the Sunday sweep.

The Lady Aggies' next scheduled outing is Tuesday, March 28 on the road at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.

In the opener, freshman Christina Clark was part of her seventh straight shutout while picking up the pitching victory to improve to 17-0 on the season. She allowed just one hit over five innings and struck out six while walking none. Alexa Hopkins twirled the final two no-hit innings of relief while fanning five batters.

Murray State plated three runs in the top of the first inning, quickly taking control after a Karsyn York leadoff single and K.J. Morgan two-run homer only six pitches into the game. Shallen Mershon was then hit by a pitch and came around to score on a Kenzie Tuck one-out single.

The Lady Aggies pushed across two more tallies in the second frame, which proved to be all the scoring in the contest, as York and Morgan provided the spark once again. York doubled with one out and Morgan followed with a double as well to plate the first run. Abby Beck's RBI single then finished off the scoring.

Mullens' squad totaled 11 hits with York notching three of those. Morgan had the two extra base hits and drove in three. Rayna Rock and Emma Damato also tossed in a pair of hits apiece.

Game two was an offensive showcase early for the Lady Aggies as they raced to an 11-0 edge through four stanzas and cruised from there.

Rock ignited the offense with a two-run homer only four batters into the opening frame.

Following a scoreless second, Murray State went back to work in the fourth with four runs as York, Remi West and Chesnie Hewitt all singled to load the bases. Rock doubled to plate two runs before Avery Flaming's sacrifice fly and North Ark error accounted for the other pair of tallies.

Murray State put the finishing touches on the triumph with five runs one stanza later. Shakira Smith doubled with one out to get things started and the Lady Aggies strung together a massive flurry with two out, including three extra base hits.

West tripled to plate one run and Hewitt doubled for another RBI. Rock and Flaming reached on back-to-back errors that allowed two more runs to score with Jordan Hayes doubling home the final tally.

Rock wrapped up with two hits and four RBI to pace the Murray State onslaught. West and Hewitt also chipped in two hits apiece and Flaming drove in a pair.

Hopkins tossed four scoreless frames in the pitching circle for the victory, yielding a pair of hits and struck out five. Ileana Lucio closed things out, allowing one run on two hits in a frame of relief.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Emma Damato: INF; Sophomore

#4 Chesnie Hewitt: INF; Sophomore

#20 Alexa Hopkins: P; Sophomore

#5 Ileana Lucio: P; Sophomore

#18 Shallen Mershon: C; Sophomore

#3 Kenzie Tuck: INF; Sophomore

#6 Remi West: OF; Sophomore

#31 Jordan Hayes: INF; Freshman

#2 Karsyn York: Utility; Freshman

#13 Avery Flaming: INF; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Emma Damato
: Sophomore
: INF

#4 Chesnie Hewitt
: Sophomore
: INF

#20 Alexa Hopkins
: Sophomore
: P

#5 Ileana Lucio
: Sophomore
: P

#18 Shallen Mershon
: Sophomore
: C

#3 Kenzie Tuck
: Sophomore
: INF

#6 Remi West
: Sophomore
: OF

#31 Jordan Hayes
: Freshman
: INF

#2 Karsyn York
: Freshman
: Utility

#13 Avery Flaming
: Freshman
: INF